School board trustees matter. That’s the simple wake-up call behind the resources developed as part of a comprehensive 2014 Ontario municipal and school board elections package.
Trustees are the only democratically elected individuals responsible for public education. They make the important local decisions that affect student achievement and well-being in communities across Ontario. On October 27, 2014, Ontarians will elect trustees in communities in the province’s 72 school boards. The trustee candidates will be on the same ballots voters will mark as they elect municipal candidates. Because it matters who is making the decisions at the local school board, the vital role of trustee is being promoted through a collection of resources now available at www.elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org.
The project is an initiative led by OPSBA and developed through a partnership between Ontario’s four school board associations and the Ministry of Education. The website is a central hub for election guides, candidate information and election results. It’s a one-stop shop for Ontarians interested in school board elections and will be useful for the general public, for students and for the candidates themselves. It features:
- Candidate bios, photos and contact information
- A first-of-its-kind map feature that allows website visitors to easily identify their local school board
- Public awareness campaign videos, posters and messages available for download and sharing
- Backgrounders on public education
Following the October 27 elections, board-by-board results will be posted to the website.
In addition to the website, OPSBA and its partners have also collaborated on Your Guide to Hosting a School Board Trustee All Candidates Meeting – the perfect resource for planning an all-candidates meeting dedicated to public education. The guide includes a list of key action items, sample agendas and suggested questions for the 2014 campaign. Available online at www.ontarioschooltrustees.org, the guide helps community groups and organizations coordinate local education debate nights, offering voters a chance to hear directly from school board trustee candidates.
To help support new and incumbent trustees elected on October 27, a new edition of the Good Governance guide is coming in December 2014. This is an essential go-to guide for elected school board members and contains the latest in education legislation, regulation and education policy. The Good Governance guide will also include new information on topics such as social media, children and youth mental health, modernization of child care and changes to the school board collective bargaining structure. Print copies of the guide will be distributed to school boards and trustees and will be available online at www.ontarioschooltrustees.org.
